1 God has More Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 1. God has more for us then what we are receiving a. We live below our privileges b. We are the Children of God, but we live like we have no privileges at all c. God has more for us in all areas of our lives i. Spiritual power with Him For if we would learn to be to Jesus what Jesus was to the Father, then Jesus would be to us what the Father was to Him ii. Health 1) Physical God has promised healing, but we must accept it, even fight for it 2) Mental a) Much of the mental anguish people have comes from a lack of depth in their relationship with God. b) Perfect love cast out fear, so when we are fearful and afraid, that is a demonstration that our love with God is not what it ought to be. c) Also, if our love with God is not proper, then our love with each other is hurting. iii. Finances God will supply my need according to His riches in heaven by Christ Jesus iv. Relationships 2. This more from God is tied to the depth of our relationship with Him a. It is not tied to how well we can pray b. It is not tied to how well we know Scriptures and can use them in the proper place c. God looks on the heart, and He sees the motives behind what we do, even better then we can d. Therefore, the more from God is tied to our pursuit of God, which we do because we love Him, not because we want something
2 3. I do not know about you, but I want More of what God has to offer a. I cry like Moses in Exodus 33:18 I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. b. I desire to see like Isaiah in Isaiah 6 The Lord on His throne high and lifted up with the whole earth being full of his glory. c. I long to see the glory of the Lord in such a way that we would fall on our faces before Him as Ezekiel did in Ezekiel 1:28 d. I long to see the Shekinah of God so thick that we are not able to continue our service as it was for Moses and Solomon when they dedicated the tabernacle and temple e. I long to see a cloud and fire of God set upon this church, my life in such a way as it was on Mt Sinai that those who see me in the world will take notice that I have been with Jesus f. I desire to have such a meeting with God that my face shines with the God s Glory as Moses face shone g. I long for a move of God like they had in the Book of Acts that will impact our lives and our families as well as our community 4. This may sound like a pipe dream to many a. But I believe that there is still water in the well b. But I believe that the Word of God is still true and valid for this world today c. But I believe that God has what we need to be a light in this dark world d. But I believe that God is looking for i. A Seth who will call upon the name of the Lord ii. An Enoch and Noah who will walk habitually with God iii. An Abraham who will live in the land of promise looking for a city whose builder and maker is God iv. An Isaac who will be a peacemaker v. A Moses who will Choose suffer affliction with the people of God instead of enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season, because they esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures and pleasures of this life, because they have respect unto the recompence of the reward.
3 vi. A Daniel and three friends who refuse to eat the unclean food of the king, refused to bow to the king s image, and refuse to stop praying at the risk of losing their lives vii. A Mary says, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word viii. Another Mary who will seek that good thing at the feet of Jesus ix. Someone to break their alabaster box of preciousness to give the best they have to Jesus x. Someone 1) Who will see the promises of God afar off, 2) Who will be persuaded of those promises, 3) Who will embrace those promises in faith, 4) Who will live in the promises and hope of God in this life 5) Who will confess that they are strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 6) Who will declare plainly that they seek a country not of this world 7) Who will refuse to be reminded of where they are from lest they desire to go back 8) Who will desire a better country, an heavenly country 9) Who knows that God is their God and that God has prepared for them city xi. Someone to say, God I am your person, have your way in me as it is done in heaven 5. God is waiting on you and I to come to the place we need to be in Him, then He will following through with the fulfillment of His Word, His Promises in our lives I. God first A. Look at the text 1. Versions a. Kjv But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you 2. Nlt
4 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 3. Ce But more than anything else, put God s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. 4. Amp But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also. 2. First, we are to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness a. Nlt Seek God s kingdom above all else and live right b. Ce Put God s work first and do what God want c. Amp Pursue God s kingdom, God s way of doing, and God s attitude and character 3. Second, All these things will be added unto you a. Versions i. Nlt God will give you everything we need ii. Ce The other things will be ours as well iii. Amp These other things will be given to us b. What things i. The food we need ii. The clothes we need iii. The drink we need iv. The things we need today and tomorrow B. Notice some other comments in this chapter about putting God first 1. In verses 1-6, we see that we are to do things for God, not for show, and when we have done them for God, then God who see in secret shall reward thee openly.
5 2. In verses 9-13, Jesus taught us to pray a. By asking for God s kingdom to come b. By asking that God s will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. c. By declaring that it is i. God s kingdom forever ii. God s power forever, and iii. God s glory forever. 3. Again in v18, We are to fast in secret, and God who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. 4. Then in v19-21, we are admonished to lay up our treasures in heaven For our treasure is, there will our heart be also. 5. Verses 21-23 directs us to be of single purpose, and that purpose is to seek God 6. And we find in v24, that we are to have only one master, and that Master is Jesus. 7. The next verses tell us to seek God first, for God will provide what we need Note: This chapter has a theme of desiring the presence and pleasure of God, rather than the recognition of man, and if we pursue God, then God will give us the things we need II. Conditions for More Note: Our text said to seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. A. Deuteronomy 28 1. Note v1 a. Requirement in v2 i. If thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, ii. To observe all His commandments which I command thee this day iii. To do all his commandments which I command thee this day,
6 b. Blessing in v1 Then The LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2. Note verses 2-8 a. Requirement in v2 If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. b. All these blessings shall come on you and overtake you i. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and ii. Blessed shalt thou be in the field. iii. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body (children, grandchildren, etc) iv. Blessed shall be fruit of thy ground, the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. v. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. vi. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and vii. Blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. viii. The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways Note: Who is your enemy? Satan is, and God will confound, confuse, and scatter him before us Note Isaiah 49:24-25 i. Kjv 24) Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? 25) But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. ii. Amp 24) Can the spoils of war be taken from the mighty man, Or the captives of a tyrant be rescued? 25) Indeed, this is what the LORD says, Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away, And the tyrant s spoils of war will be rescued; For I will contend with your opponent, And I will save your children. Note: Listen Whatever has been captured, even captured lawfully can be returned to the lawful owners, because God contends with satan for us, and God will save our children.
7 Note: 1 John 4:4 Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. ix. The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, x. The Lord shall command blessing in all that thou settest thine hand unto; xi. The Lord shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 3. Note verses 9-13 a. Requirement in v9 if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. b. Blessing in v9 God will do as He has sworn or promised i. To establish thee an holy people unto himself ii. To bless you so that all people shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee. iii. To make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. iv. To open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: Note: Rain also represents the Holy Spirit. God desires to open the windows of heaven to pour His Holy Spirit out upon us so that we will be blessed in all we do. Note: Zechariah 4:6 God told Zerubabbal that it is Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts, and this same admonition is for us today. It is God s Holy Spirit that enables us to keep God s Word, to do what God wants, to know what God wants.. v. So that you because of God s blessings, will lend unto many nations, and shall not borrow. vi. To make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; 4. Now, let us sum up God s requirements in v13 and v14 a. We find in v13 that God will fulfill His word, if we will hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which He commands thee this day, to observe and to do them:
8 b. Then in v14, we find that God blesses us if we do not go aside from any of the words which He commands us this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. Note: All these blessing hinge on the If s. Carte Blanche (blank check) to do as we please, but God expects certain things out of those who are going to be called by His name. Note: Use as an example some of the businesses in our world who require dress codes and standards of conduct if you want to work for them. i. J. B. Hunt trucking company ii. McDonald s, Hardees, etc Note: So if the world will conform to standards to have a job, why can t we conform to God s standards so we can have the deeper blessings and benefits of being in God s kingdom. God does not need union men, but God need company men who are committed to God s kingdom. Conclusion 1. 2 Chronicles 7:14 a. Kjv If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. b. Amplified And My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land. 2. Let us seek God, and then God will add to us those thing of which we have need eady for More